Ch.186Military Parade

* * *

But there was something attractive about it nonetheless.

In fact, Hirohito harbored his own sense of inferiority toward Anastasia.

If Anastasia heard this, she would call it nonsense, but Hirohito was born in the same year as Anastasia, just two months earlier.

Despite Anastasia being a woman and Hirohito himself a man, Anastasia had overcome all trials and personally fought in the civil war, becoming known as Russia’s Joan of Arc, a saint.

As the number of “Anadan”—those bizarre honorary Russians (Anastasia fans)—grew within Japan, Hirohito felt even more inferior.

Shouldn’t he at least show ambition to conquer the Central Plains?

That’s why Hirohito couldn’t help but be intrigued by this Ishiwara Kanji standing before him, even while knowing the man was a lunatic.

After all, hadn’t the Russian Empress pulled Russia up by its collar when public support had all but vanished?

Compared to the Empress of that time, Hirohito had more resources, and above all, China was less civilized and had divided itself through federalism, so there was nothing he couldn’t accomplish.

“Have no concerns, Your Majesty. The Manchurian Railway forces, the Korea Garrison Army, and the Imperial Army from the homeland will all unite to support Your Majesty and make the Central Plains your territory.”

“Hmm.”

No matter how he looked at it, this seemed like madness. Or was it?

Hirohito had studied Korean history for the governance of Korea.

Korea was always strong when China was divided, and when China was unified, Korea fell to the status of a vassal state.

Then the Imperial Army would occupy the divided China and demonstrate even greater national power.

“Your Majesty, what are you contemplating? Imagine it! The invincible Imperial Army racing across the vast Central Plains! A future where you bestow grace upon those less civilized Chinese as the elder brother of Asia!”

“Oh…hooo.”

“All that glory will be dedicated to Your Majesty!”

Hearing it put that way, it sounded even more plausible.

The invincible Imperial Army charging across the vast Central Plains!

The Emperor’s mercy bestowed upon the less civilized Chinese!

Surely, would the Empress of Moscow have personally gone to the battlefield? It’s obvious she would have been at headquarters.

Then shouldn’t he at least do the same?

“Very well. Let’s proceed as planned. Inform Governor Mutaguchi of the Manchurian Railway to expedite war preparations!”

Thus, under the Emperor’s approval, the Japanese archipelago began planning for war with China.

The Japanese people of the homeland, already influenced by the Imperial Way Faction’s ideology, showed enthusiastic support for the war with China.

Meanwhile, in Gyeongseong…

“You Korean bastard! How dare you touch my fiancée!”

“I’m sorry. I can’t live without Mr. Kim Daeyang now.”

“Oh my. Your fiancée says she prefers me?”

“No! Don’t!”

With the Imperial Way Faction’s policy of Japan-Korea unity, more Japanese had flowed into the Korean peninsula. As Korean-Japanese marriages were encouraged, the number of mixed couples increased.

Particularly, many of those who came to Korea for business were wealthy, and there were cases where Koreans who couldn’t make money in Japan but were greedy would seduce Japanese people.

This tendency continued as the Korean Government-General made Koreans equal to Japanese, and the conflict between Koreans and Japanese worsened day by day.

In many ways.

* * *

Speak of the devil, as they say.

News from Japan reached the Kremlin through Defense Minister Pyotr Wrangel.

“Japan is busy preparing for war with China. Foreign Minister Konoe Fumimaro has come to discuss China-related matters with our Duma.”

Hmm, discussions.

At most, they probably want to say they’ll kill the Communists in China! That’s it.

In exchange, they want some benefits or something. Their thoughts are predictable.

“Please don’t interfere when we enter China.”

Or “Can we buy oil when we enter China?” Something like that.

Well, it’s excellent! Japan, with its “Anadan” (those bizarre Anastasia fans who say “Awesome! Ana-chan!”), doesn’t seem likely to try anything against Russia.

But this is truly history’s irony.

Though there’s a one-year discrepancy, Japan is finally trying to show its mettle.

I haven’t heard recent news about China, so I don’t know the situation there.

“Japan is gradually showing ambition. Hmm.”

This is concerning.

Russia is currently extracting oil from Manchuria.

What does this mean? It means that if necessary, they could move troops toward Russia, exploiting Russia’s two-front situation.

If Japan targets us, we can’t prevent America from reclaiming Alaska.

Well, Alaska is a nice bonus but not our ultimate goal.

In this case, we need to try something.

We need to make Japan target America rather than us.

Not by directly telling Japan, but by preparing something that makes them realize: “Attacking this country would be disastrous.” This should be enough to make even the Imperial Way Faction refrain from expanding the front toward Russia under any circumstances.

Meanwhile, we should also strengthen the defenses of Northern Manchuria.

“Hmm. I’ve thought of a good method.”

Come to think of it, isn’t it about time for a military parade?

We’ll show off our military might in front of Fumimaro, boasting “Look how great we are!”

We don’t need to show everything, but tanks, fighter jets, and so on. At least enough to demonstrate that messing with us would be disastrous.

Even in the 21st century, countries hold military parades.

The difference is that America, being the world’s strongest, doesn’t need large-scale military parades.

But the current Russia needs a military parade.

We are ready to fight the Reds. We have a powerful army that can repel any invasion.

We need to show this. That this country is by no means weak.

“What is it?”

“How about a military parade?”

“Hmm, a military parade. That sounds good. It would be nice to hold the parade earlier and show it in front of the Japanese Foreign Minister.”

Wow. The White Army faction really does have a shared understanding.

Since the Civil War, the only proper display of the Russian military was during the Spanish Civil War.

Even the Spanish Civil War is only known to those who care to know, and it was somewhat limited as a volunteer army, so we need to show something more proper.

I’m curious how our Communist Germany, which was stimulated by the fortification of the border and immediately expanded to Denmark, will react to the military parade.

This is aimed not just at Japan but at the whole world.

“This time, let’s bring out new weapons and show off Russia’s military might. Let’s show the Anti-Comintern Pact countries that Russia is ready to fight the Reds and repel any invasion.”

“I will do so.”

“Let’s also invite foreign ambassadors for a large-scale military parade. We’ll show the world a Russia that’s different from the Imperial era.”

“Oh, that’s a good idea. Should we show all the new weapons?”

“Of course, only some of them. The US Military Government will be even more enthusiastic, and we need to show Japan that attacking such a country would lead to their downfall.”

Let’s make both the United States and the US Military Government dependent on us.

“Yes, I will do that.”

The White Army faction prepared extensively for the military parade.

This parade was expected to feature various military vehicles, tanks, and aircraft that I had only heard about in reports.

The venue was the White Square in Moscow’s new city designed by Hitler, and the main road leading to the Kremlin Palace.

I don’t know how it was in the original history, but this road running from the Kremlin Palace through Moscow was perfect for a military parade.

Moscow citizens were well-informed about the upcoming parade in advance.

Although the sudden event might have surprised Moscow citizens, they all moved as one, avoiding the roads where the parade would take place.

And so.

The day of the parade arrived.

Infantry fighting vehicles, armored units, and infantry filled the area, and I planned to watch from a platform built for ambassadors from various countries.

After all, the Tsar needs to make a personal appearance.

Moscow’s new city was dazzlingly beautiful under the clear, bright sky.

If I exaggerate a bit, Hitler’s planned city seemed more perfect than any other European city.

Naturally, Moscow citizens flocked in droves at the news of the Tsar’s arrival.

It felt like I had become an idol, with so many people. The sight of them holding small Russian flags that could be waved with one hand was novel.

They fell into a frenzy of excitement when I appeared.

“Oh, His Majesty has come here in person!”

“Please look over here, Your Majesty!”

Hahaha. I didn’t know Anastasia had so many fans.

It’s like the entire nation has become idol fans.

Look at that. Some old man is looking at me and shouting “Russian Empire, hurrah!”

He’s the kind of person who would die for the Tsar!

Young people too were waving the double-headed eagle tricolor flags, nearly dying with joy.

I waved my hand and winked once as fan service.

“Kyaa! His Majesty looked at us!”, “Ah, how beautiful!”, “The best! Ana-chan!”

I think I heard someone say “Ana-chan” in Japanese even in this situation, but surely not.

Surely there aren’t Anadan fans here in Russia?

Following this, ambassadors from various countries came to pay their respects to me.

They had been quite tense at the news of Russia holding a military parade, but when the Tsar appeared, they completely changed their expressions, truly befitting diplomats.

With ambassadors from various countries gathered, the Defense Minister, the Black Baron, finished his prepared speech, and the military parade officially began.

“It is an honor to meet Your Majesty the Tsar!”

A Japanese man approached me as I was watching from behind, clapping my hands, and bowed deeply in greeting.

Konoe Fumimaro. This guy led the Pacific War in the original history.

Now this gentleman is living the life of a Foreign Minister, and Kita Ikki has become Prime Minister.

I’d like to know more about the situation in Japan. Perhaps unlike the original history, the Imperial Way Faction easily took control of Japan without a coup, or maybe the Control Faction switched to the Imperial Way Faction.

Or perhaps there was never a split to begin with.

“You’ve come regarding China, haven’t you? Now you get to watch the parade as well.”

“Yes, Your Majesty. Not only that, but I must work diligently for Japanese-Russian friendship, mustn’t I?”

Yes. Well said.

I’m quite fond of Japanese-Russian friendship. I’d be grateful if you’d give us the opportunity to stab you in the back.

“Hmm. That’s something for the Duma to handle, but what does Japan want?”

“Yes. Our country lacks oil. I understand that Russia extracts enormous amounts from distant Baku, Siberia, and Manchuria. We only ask that you increase the trade volume to our country. Shouldn’t our Imperial nation be responsible for the seas of the Far East?”

In other words, if we provide oil, they’ll protect the Far Eastern seas for us.

Sigh. How can I trust these guys? But it could be like this.

“Hmm, if we just provide oil, can you check the British East Asian Fleet or the American Pacific Fleet? I might accept America, but I simply can’t trust Britain.”

The same goes for you, actually.

I need to set the stage for a backstab, so I should do this much.

“That is a very natural thing.”

“Well, that’s for the Duma to decide. Please coordinate well with the Duma.”

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

“Now, let’s watch our country’s parade.”

“Haha, as the Foreign Minister of the Imperial nation, I am beyond pleased to witness the Great Russian parade—”

Konoe Fumimaro turned his head with a smiling face to watch the parade but couldn’t finish his sentence.

Of course, the parade had been progressing while we were talking. The reason for his surprise wasn’t “Oh, I missed the beginning, what a shame!” It was something else entirely.

“God save the Tsar!”

Before the parade, the Russian Imperial anthem was played majestically throughout Moscow.

Following the traditional Russian Imperial parade style, the military march began in earnest after the national anthem.

Rumble rumble

It started with a military march, with White Army infantry marching proudly, followed by an armored parade with T-34 armored units marching in succession.

This was the part where Fumimaro was shocked.

The dignified and powerful appearance of the battle-hardened White Army was deeply imprinted in everyone’s minds.

Not just Konoe Fumimaro, but ambassadors from the Anti-Comintern Pact countries also widened their eyes and stuck out their tongues in amazement.

Especially the armored units. T-34 tanks different from the original history, followed by infantry fighting vehicles—that is, the BMPs of this era. Of course, when I say BMP, I mean vehicles with the limitations of this era, different from those of the 21st century.

But that alone was enough.

I don’t know what criteria they used for selection, but when female soldiers with incredible appearances marched, the diplomatic party, who had stuck out their tongues for different reasons earlier, couldn’t help but admire the armored units.

Russians along the parade route and in buildings also waved Russian flags and expressed admiration.

“To think that Russia, which was in civil war, has become this strong!”

“Are those tanks better than ours?”

Not to mention France and Britain. Even the ambassador from the US Military Government, who was hoping for our military support, had sparkling eyes.

Well, this isn’t the end.

Various weapons are scheduled to appear in this parade.

Rockets have been developed too, but I’m thinking of demonstrating those in a future war.

“Your Majesty, it’s ready.”

“You mean the aerial aircraft carrier?”

“Yes.”

As the armored parade concluded with everyone’s admiration, next, the United States’ next-generation fighters and STB bombers revealed themselves in the sky.

As if to show a Russia different from before, STB bombers flew freely in the Moscow sky.

And these bombers didn’t just fly.

The STB, made into an aerial aircraft carrier under the airborne carrier project, released small aircraft from its wings like a bird spreading its wings wide, right in front of the gathered ambassadors.

“Wow, what is that?”

“Russia’s land is endlessly vast. Naturally, our fighters need a wide operational radius, don’t they? That’s why we created that aerial aircraft carrier.”

“It’s terrifying.”

Konoe Fumimaro stared at the aerial aircraft carrier completed under the Beliye Project with a dumbfounded expression.

This should be enough to intimidate them.